In its efforts to increase children enrolment and cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government, Niger state government has concluded arrangement to provide free transportation for pupils in public schools across the state.
State Governor Umar Mohammed Bago stated this in a statement in Minna by his Chief Press Secretary Bologi Ibrahim when he received officials of the National Examination Council NECO led by its Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Prof Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi.
Alh Umar Mohammed Bago said that the free transportation for children at the basic level of education will “encourage pupils to go to school at the basic education level and again cushion the effect of subsidy removal”.
The Governor stressed the need for NECO to collaborate with the state in addressing the challenges of out-of-school children and girl-child education noting that the use of ICT in the education sector will do a great deal to its development.
He also advised NECO to find ways of supporting Vocational trainings in the education curriculum so as to have students that are self reliant by way Of catching them young for maximum benefit.
While charging the Council to do more in terms of Corporate Social Responsibilities to the state, the Governor assured of his administration’s effort to support the Examination body.
Alh Umar Mohammed Bago also announced the approval Of thirty million naira monthly to clear the outstanding debt owed NECO while volunteering to follow up on how the Examination body can recover its debt from other states of the Federation.
Earlier, the NECO Registrar and Chief Executive Prof.Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi said their visit was to congratulate the Governor on his victory at the polls and successful inauguration.
Professor Dantani Wushishi also wants Niger state government to make NECO examinations compulsory for all the Public Schools in Niger State and assured him of readiness to partner with the state to enhance education in line with its core values.
ALIYU LAWAL.
